Music
Pieces we have played in recent years include:
Vaughan Williams: Five Variants on ‘Dives and Lazarus’
Britten: Simple Symphony Op. 4
Stanford: Beati Quorum Via (arranged for string orchestra)
Bartok: Roumanian Dances
Vivaldi: Concerto in A minor
Bizet: Agnus Dei from L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2
Piazzolla: Melodia en La menor
Holst: St Paul’s Suite
Corelli: Concerto Grosso No 8 (Christmas concerto)
And in between the music there are the jokes ….. these are from MIT, Boston
We tend not to slavishly prepare each piece in full; but sections are chosen from the each work that allow members to have a bit of fun going through some pieces and developing the confidence and technique to play as a group. The result can be very satisfying.
Occasionally we have study days in which we attempt to cover a whole work, such as Shostakovich’s 8th quartet or Handel’s Concerto No 6 Op 6.
Some rehearsals are divided into sectionals – groups with tutors focusing on techniques needed in the music we are playing.
First Violins at a sectional rehearsal
Picasso: Violin and Grapes
